Furniture fasteners



1965 R. T. CARLSON 3,267,888

FURNITURE FASTENERS Filed April 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Erma/110 T6494 am) Aug. 23, 1966 R. T. CARLSON FURNITURE FASTENERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, 1964 FIG. 5

FIG. 7

United Sttes' Patent 3,267,888 FURNITURE FASTENERS Raymond T. Carlson, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., assignor of one-half to John I. Foster, Jr., Chattanooga, Tenn. Filed Apr. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 362,515 15 Claims. (Cl. 108-153) This invention relates to supports for furniture and more particularly relates to novel means for fastening legs for support members to the portion of the furniture to be supported.

Modern marketing practices make it possible to offer furniture for considerably lower prices where the furnicore can be disassembled for shipping and warehousing and then reassembled at the point of sale. At the present time this practice is in widespread use but only for the simpler furniture designs. Where more sophisticated furniture is involved, such as tables including decorative members or stretchers in addition to the usual legs, the reassembly is of such complexity as to minimize or eliminate the cost savings sought by the disassembled or knockadown shipping. This may be explained in the following manner.

The quickest and most economical way of attaching legs to talble tops in the reassembly procedure is through the use of screw type fittings whereby the table legs are simply screwed to the table top. However, where decorative members or stretchers extend between the table legs, the table legs contain apertures [for receiving these stretchers and, therefore, must be more or less precisely aligned ina rotational manner in order to permit proper mounting'of the stretohers.

While some attempts have been made to permit rotational adjustability of furniture legs, while'at the same time preserving screw type fittings, these attempts have not satisfactorily solved the problem to this date. In certain instances the unsatisfactory nature of such approaches is due to the fact that the assembly involves a trial and error method of assembly and disassembly until the proper positioning of the legs is secured. This is time consuming and, not only adds to the ultimate cost of the piece of furniture, but adds to the sales resistance on the part of the retailers. That is to say, the retailers have no desire to be bothered with furniture which is likely to be highly frustrating in reassembly. Other approaches are unsatisfactory in that the range of adjustability is inadequate to meet the need without the same trial and error approach just discussed. In still other arrangements, the use of hollow legs is mandatory and the tightening of the securing screw places a strain on the hollow leg member of such a nature as to tend to split the seam in such leg member. Generally speaking, this pressure is applied by means of a rubber insert which tends to harden with age. Experience has shown that Where such connections are used, the rubber tends to shrink so that the joints ultimately become loose and unsatisfactory.

According to the present invention, it has now been found that it is possible to achieve all of the advantages of knock-down construction with furniture of sophisticated and complex design utilizing any desired number of decorative members or stretchers. Through the use of the invention it becomes possible to apply the knock-down principle to much higher quality furniture, thereby making such furniture available to the pulblic at considerably reduced prices.

According to the invention, the furniture legs are attached to the furniture top by means of a simple screw connection which provides rigid attachment while at the same time permitting a large degree of rotational adjustment for easy alignment of the legs to permit proper mounting of the decorative members or stretchers. This permits easy and rapid assembly of the furniture so that its complexity of design is no deterent to the retailer. Indeed, the possibility of offering such high quality furniture at the reductions in prices provided by the knockdown feature makes furniture utilizing the support arrangement of this invention highly attractive to both retailers and no the purchasing public.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved and unique means of demountably attaching legs to furniture.

It is another object of the invention to provide an im proved means for assemblying demount-able furniture.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved means for connecting the legs of furniture to the furniture structure by means of a simple screw type connection providing a wide range of rotational leg adjustaibility.

It is another object of the invention to provide a connecting device for permitting demountable attachment of legs to furniture top-s by means of a screw connection of an adjustable type which is simple and inexpensive and susceptible of being utilized by unskilled labor.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a unique means for connecting table legs to furniture utilizing low cost stamped mounting elements of a simple nature.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a fastening device for attachment of a furniture leg to a table top part whereby the rotational position of the leg is selectively adjustable over a considerable arc in order to control the final position of the leg.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved means for attaching furniture legs to furniture tops whereby the furniture leg is continuously circumferentially adjustable over a large arc to control the final position of the leg with a high degree of precision while at the same time maintaining tight attachment of the leg to the table top.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification and claims and appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a table of a type whose knock-down construction is made feasible by the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section showing one method of attaching the legs to the table top according to the invention and also showing a unique method of affixing the decorative members to the legs;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the table leg and its associated mounting plate;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view partly broken away showing the cartridge which is affixed to the mounting plate of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing the collar utilized in the cartridge to receive the screw aflixed to the leg.

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section showing one method of afixing a leg to the table top according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal section taken along the line 7--7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is seen a table generally indicated at 10 which is of the so-called coffee table type, having a top 12 and legs 14. The appearance and attractiveness of the table is enhanced by decorative members or stretchers 16 and 18 and decorative members 20 and 22. The rear side of the table is, of course, provided with equivalent decorative members. According to the invention, the table is demountable so that the legs 14 and decorative members 16, 18 and 20 may be easily embodiment of the invention.

and readily detached. The decorative member 22 remains attached to the table inasmuch as it does not interfere with the knock-down packaging of the entire assembly.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, there is seen one means of connecting the legs 14 to the top 12 according to one A dished mounting plate indicated generally at 24 is secured to the underside of the table top 12. The mounting plate 24 is provided with a peripheral flange 26 secured to the top 12 by any suitable means, such as screws 28 passing through openings 30 in flange 26. The mounting plate has a flat bottom 32 with a central opening 34 for a purpose presently to be discussed.

Attached to the bottom 32 of mounting plate 24 is a cartridge indicated generally at 36 (see PEG. 4). The cartridge 36 has a tapered cylindrical section 38 which terminates at its larger end in a peripheral flange 40. The flange 40 may be fastened to the bottom 32 of plate 24 in any suitable manner, such as by spot welding. The other end of the cartridge 36 comprises a top 42 having a central aperture 44 and interior boss 46.

The lower end of a helical spring 48 rests against the top 42 around the boss 46. The other end of the helical spring 48 engages a collar generally indicated at 50. Referring to FIGURE 5, the collar 50 comprises a disc 52 having a pair of upstanding legs 54 attached thereto at diametrically opposite peripheral portions of the disc. An upstanding boss 57 is provided at the center of the disc and this is screw threaded for a purpose presently to become apparent.

Rotation of the collar within the cartridge 36 is restricted by means of inwardly extending lugs 56 struck from the tapered portion 38 to leave slots 58. The interaction of the legs 54 and fingers 56 is such as to limit the rotatability of collar 50 to something under 180 degrees.

The leg 14 has its upper end recessed as indicated at 60 and carries a screw 62 centrally thereof. The screw 62 may be mounted in the leg 14 by means of a wood screw portion 64 fastened to the leg.

The leg 14 is fastened to the table top 12 by passing the end of screw 62 through the opening 44 in cartridge 36 and screw threadedly engaging the screw with the screw threaded boss 57 on the collar 59. Rotation of the leg 14 will now move the collar 54 toward the top 42 of cartridge 36 thereby compressing the helical spring 48. After the screw 62 has passed through the threaded boss 57 in collar 59, a few turns of the leg 14 will compress the screw 48 sufliciently to provide a rigid connection between the leg and the table top. However, it is possible to rotationally adjust the leg 14 continuously in infinitely small increments through an angle of over 360 degrees, thereby permitting proper alignment of the legs 14 in order to permit insertion of the decorative members or stretchers 16 and 18.

Referring to FIGURE 2, there is shown one unique method of inserting the decorative members or stretchers which is economical and which completely eliminates the need for adhesives which might mar the finish of the furniture. According to this method the legs 14 are provided with cylindrical openings 66 of a size to receive the ends 68 of the decorative members or stretchers 18. The ends 68 of such members may be tapered if desired in order to facilitate easy entrance. Between the ends 68 of the decorative members and the bottom of the recess 66 there is provided a helical spring 76) which firmly secures the decorative members in position.

Referring to FIGURES 6 and 7, there is shown another embodiment of the invention wherein both the screw and its resilient mounting are housed within the legs. A cartridge generally indicated at 72 is formed in rectangular shape by side walls 74 and has a closed end 76. The open end of the cartridge 72 is welded or otherwise attached to a base plate 78 which is itself attached to the end 89 of leg 14 in any suitable manner such as by means of wood screws 82.

A screw 84 having a square head 36 is mounted within the cartridge 72 and extends through an opening 88 in the base 78. The end of the screw 34 screw-threadedly engages an opening 94 in a mounting plate 92 secured to the underside of the top 12 in any suit-able manner, such as by means of wood screws 94. A helical spring 96 urges the head 86 of screw 84 against the end 76 of cartridge 72. The end of the screw 84 is received in a suitable recess 98 in the table top 12.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention is as follows: The screw 84, which is unitary with the leg 14, is engaged in the opening 90 and plate 92 and advanced until the base 78 engages the plate 92. At this point further rotation of the leg 14 commences compression of the helical spring 96 to provide a rigid connection between the leg and the table top. As in the preceding embodiment, this rigid connection may be maintained as the table leg is rotated over a considerable angle and in infinitely small steps, the angle being 360 degrees or greater where desired.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the device of this invention is simple in construction, capable of manufacture by inexpensive stamping procedures, and susceptible of use by even the most unskilled assemblers who need have no knowledge whatsoever of the nature of the connection. The device makes feasible stylized relatively complex furniture in a knock-down form thereby reducing shipping and warehousing costs and permitting the offering of such furniture at prices markedly below those previously necessary for furniture of equal quality.

While two specific embodiments of flexible screw couplings are shown, it is to be understood that other shapes and arrangements of such couplings are Within the purview of the invention, so long as continuous adjustability and a wide angle of adjustment are feasible, and so long as the other previously discussed requirements of the invention are satisfied.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come Within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a table having a top and demountable legs for supporting said top, fastening means detachably securing said legs to said top, each said fastening means comprising cartridge means, a screw emanating from one end of said cartridge means, a helical spring within said cartridge means surrounding said screw therewithin, said spring bearing against one end of said cartridge means, a screwthreaded member threadedly engaging said screw, said spring being associated with said screw in such a manner that entrance of said screw into said screw-threaded member causes tensioning of said spring, one of said mounting means being attached to said legs, and the other of said mounting means being attached to said top, whereby said legs may be attached to said top in a rigid fashion throughout a considerable and continuous angle of rotational adjustment.

2. In a table having a top and demountable legs, fastening means detachably securing said legs to said top, each said fastening means including, first and second mounting members, said first mounting member including a screw, said second mounting member including a mounting plate, a container attached to one of said mounting members, said screw extending from one end of said container, a helical spring in said container surrounding said screw and bearing against one end of said container,

a threaded element screw-threadedly engaging said screw such that rotation of said screw in one direction tightens the tension in said spring upon said mounting plate and said container contacting each other, one of said mounting members being attached to said top and the other to said legs so as to provide a rigid connection between said legs and top through a large and continuous rotation of said leg with respect to said top.

3. A device as set out in claim 2 wherein said threaded element is attached to said mounting plate.

4. A device as set out in claim 3 wherein screw is attached to a leg and said mounting plate is attached to said top.

5. A device as set out in claim 4 wherein said container is attached to said leg.

6. A device as set out in claim 4 wherein said container is attached to said mounting plate.

7. In a table having a top and demountable legs, fastening means detachably securing said legs to said top, each said fastening means including a mounting plate secured to said top and having a screw-threaded opening therein, a container means attached to said leg, a screw mounted in said container, a spring biasing said screw toward the bottom end of said container, and means for limiting the rotation of said screw relative to said container means, said screw, screw-threadedly engaging said opening so that rotation of said leg tenses said spring to provide a rigid attachment of said leg to said top through a considerable and continuous angle of rotation of said leg relative to said top.

8. A device as set out in claim 7 wherein said container means has a non-circular cross section and said screw has a head of non-circular cross section for limiting its rotation in said container means, said spring having an end engaging said head and having its other end engaging one end of said container means.

9. A device as set out in claim 8 wherein said one end of said container means comprises a plate extending beyond the periphery of said container means and secured to the upper end of said leg, said container means being received in a recess in said upper end of said leg.

10. In a table having a top and demountable legs, fastening means detachably securing said legs to said top, each said fastening means including a screw and screwthreaded means receiving said screw and resilient means tensing said screw so that rotation of said leg tenses said spring to provide a rigid axial attachment of said leg to said top through a considerable and continuous angle of rotation of said leg relative to said top, and stretcher members extending between said legs, the ends of said stretcher members being received in openings in said legs, and springs in said openings holding said stretcher members in position.

11. A device as set out in claim 10 wherein said springs are helical springs.

12. A device as set out in claim 9 including stretcher members extending between said legs, the ends of said stretcher members being received in openings in said legs,

and springs in said openings holding said stretcher members in positions.

13. In a table having a top and demountable legs for supporting said top, fastening means detachably securing said legs to said top, each said fastening means including a leg having'a central recess with a screw fixedly connected and projecting therefrom, mounting means including a screw-receiving member fixedly positioned to said top, said mounting means including a helical spring surrounding said screw, such that upon receipt of said screw into said screw-receiving member, said helical spring will be compressed thereby and axially, rigidly attach said leg to said top while at the same time permitting a substantial circumferential repositioning of said leg.

14. In a table having a top and demountable legs, fastening means detachably securing said leg to said top, each said fastening means including a screw carried by said leg, a container carried by said top, screw-threaded means carried by said container, including a collar abutting one end of said screw, said collar having at least one finger extending from a peripheral edge thereof, said container having at least one finger struck therefrom to engage said first-named finger and limit the movement of said collar, and helical spring means surrounding said screw in said container and having one end engaging an end of said container spaced from said top, said screw entering said container and screw-threadedly engaging screw-threaded means so that rotation of said legs tenses said spring to provide a rigid attachment of said leg to said top through a considerable and continuous angle of rotation of said leg relative to said top.

15. A device as set out in claim 14 including stretcher members extending between said legs, the ends of said stretcher members being received in openings in said legs, and springs in said openings holding said stretcher members in position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,581,020 4/1926 Russell 108-153 2,482,614 9/ 1949 Flora 287-20 2,698,775 1/1955 Courtwright 287-20 2,904,379 9/1959 Nelson 248-188 X 2,970,025 1/1961 Wilson 248-188 2,975,667 3/1961 Bross 36 2,982,989 5/1961 Heyer 8536 X 3,005,612 10/1961 Drezner et al. 248-188 3,032,375 5/1962 Lalandre 248-188 3,092,406 6/1963 Wasserstrom 248-188 X 3,131,899 5/1964 Luhrs 248-188 3,135,309 6/1964 Soltysik 248-188 X FOREIGN PATENTS 245,923 7/ 1963 Australia.

FRANK B. SHERRY,.Primary Examiner.

J. T. MCCALL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A TABLE HAVING A TOP AND DEMOUNTABLE LEGS FOR SUPPORTING SAID TOP, FASTENING MEANS DETACHABLY SECURING SAID LEGS TO SAID TOP, EACH SAID FASTENING MEANS COMPRISING CARTRIDGE MEANS, A SCREW EMANATING FROM ONE END OF SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS, A HELICAL SPRING WITHIN SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS SURROUNDING SAID SCREW THEREWITHIN, SAID SPRING BEARING AGAINST ONE END OF SAID CARTRIDGE MEANS, A SCREWTHREADED MEMBER THREADEDLY ENGAGING SAID SCREW, SAID SPRING BEING ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SCREW IN SUCH A MANNER THAT ENTRANCE OF SAID SCREW INTO SAID SCREW-THREADED MEMBER CAUSES TENSIONING OF SAID SPRING, ONE OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS BEING ATTACHED TO SAID LEGS, AND THE OTHER OF SAID MOUNTING MEANS BEING ATTACHED TO SAID TOP, WHEREBY SAID LEGS MAY BE ATTACHED TO SAID TOP IN A RIGID FASHION THROUGHOUT A CONSIDERABLE AND CONTINUOUS ANGLE OF ROTATIONAL ADJUSTMENT. 